Why Blog Controversy Is A Good Thing

In light of the recent "I Hate Glee" controversy, I've received many personal messages on my Facebook account thanking me for inspiring them to stand up for what I believed in. Most of the people who sent me the messages believed that one of my readers has definitely made the wrong move by advertising my blog to his friends and making them come after me for all that nasty things I've posted regarding Glee. According to one person who's read my blog:

Anonymous Man December 15 at 1:34am Reply • Report

"I don't know what this guy's problem is- but he sure was affected. You're a good writer Chuck and what you wrote has given them something to think about that's why they reacted the way they did. I'm proud at the way you made a stand and I hope to see more writers like you get published someday"

Another person, a lady this time also sent me a message pretty much saying the same thing even though she has a different view of the subject from me:

Anonymous Lady December 15 at 03:00 am Reply • Report

"That guy who commented on your blog behind your back with his friends are total losers.  I like Glee but I respect your opinion about the show. That's your opinion and you are entitled to it. You must have hit raw nerve to make them react that way. They wouldn't have reacted if what you wrote has not affected them- this only means to say that you're one pretty good writer and you sure got their attention! People like that should just bury themselves six feet under the ground. If he's so good, then why didn't he personally messaged you about it instead of whining about it with his friends?"

Another man pretty much said the same thing

 

Anonymous Man II December 15 at 05:24 am Reply • Report

"What douche bags! Didn't they realize that what they did has only made them look stupid in front of all the people who can read their comments?  How much is Glee paying these losers to react so badly over someone's personal comment anyway?"

With such admiring readers like this, allow me to say my deepest thanks for all your support and comments. But like what I said in my previous entry, I'm glad things turned out the way they did. Why? Because what most people failed to realize is that just by simply reacting and viewing my blog, these people has made a huge contribution in raising my blogspot to another level. Thanks to RV and his so-called Gleetards! (Ooops, I did it again...)

But I'm not writing this to humiliate them or to give them another piece of my mind. I already did that with my previous entry and honestly, the whole argument is so dull it bored me to death. Sorry guys, but I lost interest already. The real reason why I brought this up is because of an article I read on the net today which I believe is very timely. It's a technique on how to boost the number of readers in your blog which I happen to have done so without even realizing. This technique is what many bloggers would call "Controversial Blogging" or "Blog Controversy".

I stumbled upon this article on the net today from a fellow blogger with a comment to one of the other blogger she frequently follows. This is what she has to say regarding blogging:

“Oh my goodness. Can you believe the nerve of that guy who dared to disagree with that thing that you said? I know what it is. They just wanted more traffic, so they’re leeching off your popularity. By criticizing what you said, they must be trying to rank in the search engines for your name, because you’re just so popular. They expect you’ll link back to them in an angry huff too, sending some of your own traffic their way. But you can outsmart them. Just give them more to react about! They’ll be visiting your blog regularly just to see if you made any entries regarding them.”

Pause. Hmmmm... sounds famillar- oh wait; that just happened to me!

In my blog, I have said some really nasty things about Glee and to some extent maybe even to this backstabber who couldn't stop ranting and whining about it. (would you believe that the last status post he made before going to bed is still with regards to my blog entry?) I can see where he's coming from- to him I'm despicable. A meanie in short. I may have been mean to make a point there, but after reading this article I realized that being mean isn't such a bad thing; and creating controversy is not as bad as creating a scandal. Blogs are places where people vent out their personal opinions. I wasn't mean enough to call these people names but if it were other bloggers, they'd probably have nicknames by now. I've actually seen some bloggers make this kinds of arguments before but the trouble here is, just like me, they've got nasty malcontent readers who tends to strongly disagree with them, never happy with anything, as if the only way to reach a common ground is to fall in line and agree with them- or become one of their little minions by painting the most blatant stupidity with a rosy glow (and let's all face it- people like these say stupid things occasionally just because they can't stand the fact that others can disagree with them or because they think they're so good that they're always right). Sadly, to these people I say "Sorry sweeties, but you've got it all wrong."

Okay, let's not keep the suspense from getting any farther. Let's take a deeper look at blog controversy, especially the kind directed to a blog or blogger and on my stake how to deal with it. 

Blog controversy is not a bad thing.

Ready? Attac

As a blogger, I have asked this question: Are there some readers who attack bloggers  like me solely to get attention? Absolutely. Now for the readers, you may want to ask yourself this: Does that mean that everyone who calls you out from time to time is just out to leech off of their blog’s success? No. You’d be hard-pressed to make a case that even most people writing controversial posts, about you or otherwise, are just using them as stunts to gain traffic. This is not the case at all.

Controversy is good. It doesn’t mean that people who writes blogs are out to get you. It doesn’t mean bloggers hate you either just because we disagree with you, even if we disagree passionately. Even if we really don’t like you, there’s probably another reason we’re writing controversial posts — we have something to say! How boring would the world be if everyone agreed all of the time, and we never had serious discussions or debates? Without new and different ideas, not only would we be incredibly dull, but we’d suffer from a lack of innovation. I wouldn’t want to live in a world like that. Would you?

Life is full of controversy. The blogosphere isn’t any different, and I’d argue that it shouldn’t be. Not everyone targets the same audiences with their blogs, and there are often many other ways of looking at an issue, depending on which audience the blog is targeting. It doesn't necessarily mean you all the time. Not only might the we genuinely have different ideas, but our ideas might be better. Yes, you might be wrong from time to time and we may actually even be right! By blowing off opposing views because you find it easier to feel victimized than look at yourself in a constructive way, you condemn yourself to more “attacks” in the future. When we are targeting a similar audience, their motives are probably much less about pissing you off and much more about doing what we feel is best for our readers. If that means calling out hypocrisy and what we feel is bad advice from others, then we should absolutely do it. If we don’t, we’re simply being complacent or unaware of what’s happening in our own niche or industry, and that’s hardly helpful to their readers.

We’ve established that sometimes blog controversy is a good thing, because it’s how ideas are spread and how opinions are swayed. We’ve also established that the motives behind controversial posts about you or our blog probably have less to do with you than the other blogger’s . But how should you deal with controversy and attacks on our blogs? While that varies depending on the situation, here are a few tips to point you in the right direction:

Are You Always The Victim? Poor Poor You...

• Evaluate the blogger’s motives. – Is there any merit at all in what we’re saying? Forget about your opinion and think about ours . Does it makes sense for us to share our opinions with our readers, or is it completely irrelevant and nothing more than an attack for the sake of attacking you? Controversy doesn’t always have to be “nice” or sugar-coated just to spare your feelings. Are you letting your emotions over the criticism cause you to overreact and jump to the blame game? (Hmmmm... I know someone who'd definitely learn from this. Hope you're reading this R)

• Do a self-check. – Did you comment something hypocritical? Did you comment something completely illogical? Might you really be wrong about something? Be honest. You might not like the fact that the criticism is at least sometimes well-deserved but like I said before, everyone says stupid things from time to time. I’m not an exception. You’re not an exception. No one is.

• Don’t play the victim. – Nobody likes a whiny person with a “woe is me” attitude all the time. Either there’s merit to your viewpoint and you can defend it when confronted, or there isn’t (and you should be able to acknowledge that). If you made an error, fix it. If you’re holding firm in your beliefs, that’s fine too, but state why (in your comment, or on your own blog if you have one.) if it’s appropriate to do so, and leave it at that. Acting like people are only out to get you just entices them to criticize your behavior even more. 

• Know when to respond and when to walk away. – Responding to every controversial or criticizing post about you will do little more than stress you out and waste your time. Then again, ignoring all criticism and controversy makes it look like you’re living under a rock Seek balance. If it’s just a flat out personal attack that’s completely irrelevant to the subject matter, personally I prefer to ignore it and blame it on a bad day the reader's having. I don’t let it get to me. If they criticize or question a piece of professional advice, I see if there’s merit to their argument (in the context of my own target audience). If so, I either comment on their posts, respond on my own in a new post (if it’s a longer response), or respond to their comment on my blog.

• Know when to make it personal (and when not to). — I don’t mean you should ever make a personal attack in response to a controversial issue related to you (as in a debate about business finance advice turning into a “yeah, well you’re despicable” kind of pissing match — completely irrelevant). I mean you have to know when it’s appropriate to name names, and when it’s better to tackle your side of an issue without the one-on-one element. Here’s my policy. If I know the other person can act like an adult and actually have a constructive cross-blog debate, I’ll mention their name and link to their controversial post. If I know the reader acts like a whiny brat crying about how everyone who criticizes them is so mean, trying to make them out to be some kind of martyr while they in turn take subtle shots at others, then it’s a different story. In that case, I’ll still share my views (probably even more aggressively), but I won’t bother mentioning names or sending traffic their way. Why? Because I don’t have the time to deal with the “oh, poor me — you’re just trying to ride my coattails” garbage that often results. Hope you're reading this R. The other scenario where I’ll not name names is when I’m writing a controversial post or response about an issue that’s hotly debated industry-wide. In that case, there might be so many people sharing the same opposing viewpoint, that my response simply isn’t in reference to one of them — it’s a more general commentary. Again, that’s just an example of how I choose to handle certain types of blog controversy. Your policies might be entirely different, and that’s okay. 

• Be willing to learn. – Whether you like it or not, that controversial blogger probably isn’t the only person who feels the way they do. They’re just the only one (or one of a few) willing to be vocal. Others avoid controversy at all cost, and never share their own views publicly. In other words, some of you probably agree with them! If what they’re saying makes sense, consider it. If they’re more experienced than you, learn from them. If you still don’t agree with their underlying points, that’s fine. You might be right in that case, or it might be an issue where two different views can both be “right.” Just know that in those situations there might still be some who need convincing of the merits of your own viewpoint. If you’re responding to an authority source in your niche or industry, it’s important to let your people know where you’re coming from, whether or not they ultimately agree with you. Leaving lingering doubts might make them question whether or not you’re really worth listening to when it comes to the issues that matter to them.

Remember, blog controversy isn’t always a bad thing, even when it comes to attacking and debating other people’s ideas. It’s a part of a larger conversation. How you choose to be involved in that conversation is up to you and your audience. Misjudging motives, throwing a perpetual pity party for yourself, and covering your eyes when controversy comes along mean you have no way of growing because you can't accept that some people may be right and you're wrong. In this blogger’s opinion, it’s better to have a voice. After all, if you have nothing to say then you have just deprived yourself from the freedom that truly belongs to you- your freedom of speech!

My Rebuttal: The I Hate Glee Issue

I'm back- and sorry but I can't resist. Had to find a nice quiet place here at the Winter Fashion Show in Rockwell so I may give out my rebuttal for this issue that I've admittedly (and proudly) brought in the open. 

One of my BFFs sent me a text message regarding some comments about my "I Hate Glee" blog entry. He said that it's all over Facebook! Surely, I was dying to hear what other people have to say! While some liked my blog and others agree with my opinion, I was quite amused with one who read it and gave some comments about it. The comments are not necessarily nice but that's understandable. In fact, I've been expecting that from many Gleeks out there. What I find so amusing with this scenario (and why I singled it out) is because he's got some people backing him up and talking about it. Though I have to say, I appreciate your comments because I spent a whole hour just laughing about it; I couldn't resist writing a rebuttal.

So here's what he has to say. Don't worry- I omitted your name and the name of your "friends" to protect your identity. He posted this on his wall around 06:00 PM today.

"GLEE is GLEE. You can't argue with success. One of the reasons why I am posting this is not because someone actually doesn't like it (who cares anyway?) but because he actually said it should be put OFF THE AIR! Duh? And who does he think he is to even say we need to prove to him that it is really good? Truth is, what he said or what ...I said no longer matters. Besides, if GLEE really sucks, then why are there millions of people still glued on their TV screens and anticipating/watching every episode? Everyone is different and there's such a thing as PREFERENCE. Bottomline is: if you like one TV program, then patronize it and sell it without having to put something else down. Now if you choose to do it, then be ready to receive reactions, not necessarily on your blogsite but on Facebook where it matters a whole lot more. Let's just keep watching."

 

My Rebuttal: 

• GLEE is GLEE. You can't argue with success.- I wasn't arguing with their success. I wrote specifically on my blog that it's the fascination I don't understand- not the success. Re read my blog again. I did mention that a lot of people are watching it didn't I? That's hardly arguing with success.   

 

• but because he actually said it should be put OFF THE AIR! Duh? And who does he think he is to even say we need to prove to him that it is really good? - Again, let me remind you that this is MY BLOG. Anything I want to say here- no matter how nasty you may think it is; it's my PERSONAL OPINION. Let me tell you a little secret- The secret to not being personally affected; don't read it if you don't like what it says. I don't like Glee and  that's my  personal opinion. What, we're not allowed to have opinions now? Where did the freedom of expression go? Tsk tsk tsk...

 

• Everyone is different and there's such a thing as PREFERENCE- No argument here.  Hating Glee is my preference. Are you saying that I can't express my view on this matter? This is my outlet to let off steam. It's my blog! If you have yours, then by all means do it. But please, don't try to insinuate what I should and should not write in my blog. I have the last say with what  goes in here- it's my space. 

 

• Now if you choose to do it, then be ready to receive reactions, not necessarily on your blogsite but on Facebook where it matters a whole lot more.- I don't have a problem receiving reactions online on my blog spot or on Facebook. Although, let me say that my blog has reached farther than your Facebook account did. And with regards to reactions, I did say, try to prove me wrong didn't I? Read between the lines- that's a welcoming note. The reason  that I said that is so that everybody would know that reactions and comments are welcome. 

• Let's just keep watching- Good. So that other people may see my point as well. Like many of you, I'm not the only one who hated Glee. I wouldn't be posting my insights regarding this if I was the only one who felt this way- then again even if I was, you knew I still would. However,  let me reiterate that I don't need anyone's help with defending this issue because my opinions are just as valid as yours and as everybody else. 

Now that we got that out in the open, I'd just like to answer some of the comments his friends gave regarding this issue. I'm also omitting their names to protect their identities: 

• Lady Friend: take it off the air??? that's a bit extreme, isn't it?

• MY REBUTTAL:  You bet it's extreme. But that's why I said "should". I didn't say Glee "will" be taken off the air- I said "should". This basically comprises of my opinion and some others. In fact, you should be thankful I didn't have the power or the connection (yet) to have it removed from broadcasting. If I did, Glee would (again, please take note of the word "would") never have seen the light of day after the 1st episode.

• 5 hours ago ·

  
  

• My Reader:  Exactly. And here's some other nasty comments among others. To quote,
  

  
  "It might also be because Charice Pempengco is in it - and I hate her. She thinks shes way better than everybody else just because she's a Filipino who made it big in the... U.S. Well think again, you're not that big a star yet Charice! You might want to do something with your face first before you call yourself a "big Star".
  
  * "The characters are ANNOYING and can't SING! Where did the producers get these people? GLEE has no talent."
  
  * "Charice's pieces are boring and totally a snooze. Never saw acting that bad!
  
  * "GLEE is nothing but a figment of your uncreative imaginations and an embarassing failure to local TV - like cheap teleseryes and telenovelas your maid, your drivers and all your helpers love to watch!"
  
  * And he called us "Gleetards" or Glee retards for the uninformed).
  
  Now tell me if these are something you guys could swallow and just take sitting down. You're actually not a bad person because you hate GLEE. You are a bad person because of your HARSH WORDS and DESPICABLE ATTITUDE. Rereact react kang nasabihan ka ng bad, then try reading your previous blog to find out why many people called you such...

  
  

  MY REBUTTAL:  

  - It sound's nasty alright but that's my opinion on Charice Pempengco. The air she puts on every interview she has ever had after being casted on Glee simply implies that all the air has gone into her head. If that wasn't a friendly advice I wouldn't know what it is. All I'm trying to say is that she's not a huge star yet so she better hold her horses down. In my opinion (it can get tiring have to repeat "in my opinion" over and over again...) she really doesn't look good nor does she sings well. That's "my opinion". Don't hold it against me. You like her, I don't. What's wrong with saying what I think?
  

  -I really find the characters annoying and talentless. What's wrong with that? I thought I was watching a TV series not people prancing around and singing! But seriously, read and re-read my blog dude! Talent does not just imply singing- it also connotes acting which is in "my opinion" the Glee cast suck!

  
  

  -Charice's pieces (like Reeses' Pieces- suddenly I'm hungry) are boring to me. That's my opinion. She's a "singer" not an actress. My suggestion was to let her take acting classes first. What's wrong with that? I am entitled to my own opinion right? I may not be an expert- but at least I have an opinion which I don't need someone else to reaffirm.

  
  

  -So what if I find Glee uncreative? I said in my blog it's a copy cat of High School Musical. If Glee was supposed to be creative, then it should have been different and totally unpredictable. Can you give me one (at least one) episode when they didn't sing a remake song? That would be unpredictable.
  

  -Gleetards is what many people who hate Glee call the Gleeks. It's all over the net. Wish  I was the one who made that up but sorry- I can't take credit for the one who really came up with it. If you hate being called a Gleetard, blame it on the person who started it over the net!

  
  

  - I may have harsh words but at least I wasn't afraid to air them out. Like I said, I'd rather have an opinion than not have one at all. I'm standing by what I believe in- and I don't need my friends to back me up on this issue. Posting your rebuttal on Facebook so others can see it means you need someone to agree with you. Posting my blog on Facebook means I have an opinion and I'm airing it out through my blog. There's a difference.

  
  

  - You may find me despicable but I did say on my blog I don't care. Everybody has opinions on someone. One thing I can say, I didn't pass judgment on you- unlike what your friends did. It would be easy to get a reaction from you because you know me (or atleast a part of me) , but your friends don't know me from Adam; yet they judged me. People who know me knows what to expect from me because I don't keep my opinions aside. You say I'm despicable, they say I'm just being honest. 
  
  - Re read my blog. I said many people called me bad but I WAS NEVER SORRY ABOUT IT. Read the gist- I'M PROUD OF IT. I'm standing to defend what I believe in- no matter what people say. 

  
  

  5 hours ago ·

  
  

  
  
• His "Male" Friend: i so love GLEE...tigilan ako ng mga pretensiyosong tao. If you dont like it, then don't watch it. Keep your finger off Glee's channel. Hirap kasi, silip rin ng silip tapos magcocomment ng di maganda....hahahaha wawa naman.

  
  

  MY REBUTTAL:  The problem with people giving out unsolicited opinion is that they don't know what they are commenting about. I watched Glee so I can have a solid idea what it's all about- so I don't give out opinions based on opinions I formulated from thin air. I wasn't peeking- I was watching. My comments are based on all the episodes I watched- and darn straight I watched all of the episodes so I can give a full comprehensive review. I'm not the type of writer who judges the book without reading it first. Your friend should do the same.
  

  5 hours ago ·

  
  

  
  
• Lady Friend: share mo naman ung blog niya KM... pero seriously, this person has issues. :P
  

  MY REBUTTAL: Thank you for taking time to view and read my blog. You're right, I have issues- and that's what my blog is for.

  
  
  

  5 hours ago ·

  
  

  
  
• My Reader: He has. I'll pm you the links...
  

  MY REBUTTAL: Thank you for promoting my blog. Finally- some truth in advertising!
  

  
  

  5 hours ago ·

  
  

  
  
• Lady Friend: It bothered me... but towards the middle of his blog, I figured that this person does not know what he's talking about...He's just pretending to be a classy and intellectual individual. Plus, I think his exposure to the shows he had mentioned (Beverly Hills, Melrose Place) is obviously where he got his nastiness to begin with! :P
  

  MY REBUTTAL:  Thanks for your concern. You were actually bothered with what I had to say? Thought you guys didn't care (hence, One of the reasons why I am posting this is not because someone actually doesn't like it (who cares anyway?) and Truth is, what he said or what ...I said no longer matters.) Thanks for the pre-judgment as well. You don't actually know me but you had the guts to say that I'm just pretending. Hmmm.... Oh and by the way, that's Beverly Hills 90210 not just Beverly Hills. Don't get the location mixed up with the TV show or people might get the wrong idea. LOLs. And you're wrong- eeeeenggg! That's not where I got my nastiness from. LOLs. But thank you for saying exactly what you thought of me. I was hoping for more crude comments but the least I could honestly say was that I wasn't disappointed with your replies. Not a formidable match but I recognize the effort.

  
  

  
  

  4 hours ago ·

  
  

  
  
• My Reader: Damn right. This I should say is a fair assessment from someone who's neutral and doesn't stand to gain anything from it.
  

   MY REBUTTAL: Wow, so now I have an agenda? :-) What could I possibly gain from writing in my blog? Fame? Fortune? I wasn't even being paid to do that! I had nothing to gain but to air out my opinion on "My Blog". My blog. It's-my-blog! Hence it's called a blog- online journal. Hehehehehe! Whatever I had to say is okay because it's my blog. :-)
  By the way, how can you say she's neutral? Her info on Facebook says she likes Glee and she's your friend obviously, she'd come to you and Glee's defence- where's the neutral ground in that?

  
  
  

  3 hours ago ·

  
  
  

  Here's an idea- I wrote down a simple and small rebuttal on Facebook (so these people may see it) at 05:45 PM- just 15mins before they actually started going on hysteria. I said:
  

  "Thanks for all those who commented (wow, it took me this much just make you guys read my blog hehehehe!) negative or positive I greatly appreciate your insights regarding this issue I just opened up. For those who were offended, sorry but this is my blog which basically means that I have the freedom to write whatever I want. If you didn't like what I just posted then don't read it. There is a matter called CHOICE and I just chose to air out my own views and opinions in public because I'm not afraid of people judging me. More topics to come within the next few days. Thanks everyone!"
  

  
  

  Pretty much that's a short and simple rebuttal concerning what I've posted and the reason why. If these people would have taken some time to read it before everything else then they would have spared themselves the waste of time reacting and pulling their hair off just to defend Glee's honor. But honestly, I'm glad that they did. Reading their comments and on how "angry" they are for me sharing my opinion on my personal space has made me laugh all throughout the evening. With readers and followers like this- who needs enemies? Hahahahahaha!

  
  Now before I get nasty again and have a throng of people up my #%&, let me just get to the point in all of this:  There is a matter called CHOICE and I just chose to air out my own views and opinions in public because I'm not afraid of saying what I think This blog is my personal space. Again, if you don't like it you don't have to read it. It's a free country. No one is forcing you to read it. If you are bothered this much- then go create your own blog. My point is; it's my blog and I can write anything I want. I wasn't affected in a negative way with your comments (puhleeez). In fact (I had to repeat it again) I welcome and I thank all comments (check out the space provided at the bottom of my entry- that's where comments actually go). If I didn't want any comments, then I would have clicked on the option to remove it when my blog was created. My blog has reached areas farther than Facebook has- and this goes to all blogs posted on the net. Horray to all bloggers! I am not afraid to post it on Facebook that's why I posted the link- and this is because I know people understand that blogs are personal spaces.

  
  I'm saving the best for last- and please, hear me out on this. Have you ever thought about what you just said? Were you that affected to actually get people to back you up? I'm not afraid of people saying things about me but are you- that you'd actually need someone to reaffirm your statements? Here's the catch. People know me- and they know that I'm an a%$. They know that I say what comes on top of my head. I'm being honest that way instead of just keeping shut. They already expect this from me. But you, do people really know who you are? And if they do, then why are you stooping down to my level? You did say I was despicable- what all for writing a blog containing my  personal pinion? I'm sorry but do you know what despicable means? LOLs. Who's  despicable- Is it me who was just being true to what I firmly believe in?

  
  Sorry dude- no offense. It's all in a day's work.  

  
  

  And now I can finally go back to my work and lay this issue to rest. People who have jobs know that not everything revolves around Glee. You should too you know.

Why I Hate Glee

I tried- honestly I did. I did my best to like this freak show but I just couldn't. It just doesn't appeal to my good taste and I find so many things wrong with it! While the rest of the world are proudly announcing that they are "Gleeks" on their Facebook status, I am contemplating hard on why the show has no appeal to me.

Glee On Fox TV

I had no issues with teen drama. Growing up in a western culture, my teen years were spent watching teen drama on TV. I loved Beverly Hills 90210, California Dreams, Melrose Place, and even Dawson's Creek. But Glee is a totally different story. I couldn't bring myself to like it- let alone love it.

Maybe it's because everybody else loved it and I just wanted to be set apart from the crowd by hating what everybody loved. It might also be because Charice Pempengco is in it- and I hate her. She thinks shes way better than everybody else just because she's a Filipino who made it big in the U.S.  Well think again, you're not that big a star yet Charice! You might want to do something with your face first before you call yourself a "big Star". Nastiness aside, I hate Glee because there's just so many things I find wrong with it that it just doesn't capture my intellect-ably high taste.

The Unbelievably Loser Cast Of Glee

So seriously, what's with Glee that everybody loved it and I hated it? On the top of my head, I find so many things wrong with this show produced by Ryan Murphy. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said that Glee is four acts of darkness and two acts of sweetness. Ok, wait, did I just read that right? Where was the sweetness? I think he means the wearyingly repetitive slushies-thrown-in-faces gag. Slushies are sweet, right? I think Murphy may have some trouble identifying sweetness: these characters are too deeply cynical to be high-schoolers. And why do I find them unattractive? Subjective impressions of physical appearance aside: the men are doe-eyed, 'aw, shucks' goofball victims or total douche-hats, and the women are manipulative, evil shrews or crazier than lousy-house rats and they're not even pretty to be like that to begin with. Compared to Gossip Girl, Blair and Serena may be manipulative schemers but at least they look good! I just don't understand the fascination with Glee at all. Glee is just off-putting! I'd rather hang out with Sil from 'Species' than any girl on Glee. At least 'Sil' looks hot- and she's got personality. Who WAS I supposed to identify with in Glee or, for crying out, who should I LIKE?

The Fabulous Cast Of Gossip Girl

People hate being lied to. Glee's pilot sold me on a premise: high school schlubs make good in glee club. Yay! Sounds like fine fare, musical comedy fun. I watched the pilot. I looked watched it with keen eyes. Then I let it slap my face for 10 episodes until I gave up. There was no character development. No plot. Just miserable, auto-tuned, stereotypes unable to connect with my life experiences as an uncaring universe heaps torment and humiliation upon them. Talk about real life issues. I was able to relate to every episode of Gossip Girl and yet I couldn't relate to a single episode of Glee... it's because Glee isn't REALISTIC!

'Glee' pretends to care about humanity, the pain of growing up, and the blight of high school, but I cannot feel its tacky happy endings. "Freaks and Geeks" was painful to watch, too, but at least it seemed more honest. I actually cared about those characters and when bad things happened to them, I felt bad for them. That's how drama's supposed to work. I think. Or is there some way to loathe everything the characters stand for and just enjoy the juiciness as they stab each other? It worries me how many viewers are probably doing just that. Glee oozes with all the shallow, soul-soiling unpleasantness of reality TV only somebody HAD TO MAKE THIS UP!

The problem with Glee is that it's trying too hard. It's deliberately setting out to say “Hey, look – life’s not so bad!". Welcome to the world people- life can be bad and life is unfair. Deal with it. Face up to it's challenges instead of singing your way through life like nothing else matters. Why is Gossip Girl better at this than Glee? It's because Gossip Girl doesn't try to hide the reality of life. Gossip Girl show's life's issues and deals with it upfront! Life is not about candies and rainbows. It can be dark, brooding and sometimes depressing. The best thing about Gossip Girl and the worst part about Glee is that Gossip Girl teaches us how to handle life in the most difficult of situations while Glee just basically instructs us which note to hit when you run into an obstacle. This is life huh?

Glee- Not Pretty Enough

Another thing- and man, I'm just getting started. The glee club is supposed to consist of losers, very few of which might just end up trumping the popular kids at some later date if they make it as an actor or musician or whatever. But the stark truth is that most of its members won’t. They are, as a general rule, not thin enough, not good-looking enough, not straight enough, or not white enough, to make it in that culture. Glee takes place in an American high school, that most awful of environments for teenagers, where judgment is superficial and a strict caste system exists, with very clear winners and losers. And then, the storyline of the show goes, the meathead jock joins the club, along with his missus, and all of a sudden everything’s much better. Of course, the storyline has to focus on the good looking, white cast members for the most part, but there is the occasional metaphorical bone thrown to the others. The cheerleader gets pregnant (predictably) and decides to have the baby (predictably), although she plans to give it away.

I think what really annoys me is that the show has the potential, behind the gloriously over-the-top musical numbers, to explore real issues about the problems within American high schools. Instead, the operation of the hierarchy (and the arch-villain, Sue Sylvester) is shown in a light-hearted way. The show neglects the often very real problems of identity and self-worth that most teenagers go through and seems instead to yell, “You can do it!” at the top of its lungs. While I’m sure this gets a good reaction stateside, where life’s all about getting yourself out there and living the American dream, I’m saddened that  even a British audience manages to swallow this kind of tripe without choking, or at least without it leaving a nasty taste in their collective mouth.

Perhaps that’s all Glee’s supposed to be – an hour to forget reality and curl up with a big duvet of suspended cynicism around you, basking in the warm glow of a universe where things aren’t decided for you, and you really can do it if you believe in yourself. But I still won’t be watching it. And if people do, they shouldn’t let it affect their lives. Because it’s BS through and through. 

Glee Is For LOSERS!

How Do I Hate Glee?

Let me count the ways.

For starters, Glee is what I would call a saccharine snorefest. Totally boring and way out of it's league (if there ever was a league for embarrassing TV shows in history). Glee just tries too much but comes short in so many different ways.Why do I say it's a snorefest? It's a TV show to avoid at all costs; a weekly dose of bad- perhaps even terrible programming. 

Glee Sucks!

Given the fact that everybody loves Glee, I expect it to be a good laugh. You know, the kind of show that would make you laugh with every line they say- like F.R.I.E.N.D.S. or Will & Grace. Sadly, despite the show's effort, Glee comes out to be smugly satisfied by it's own genius before a single episode was shown. No matter how hard it tries, it still comes off as a show that looks average when compared to it's contemporaries, such as the infinitely more enjoyable (and funny) Modern Family, or the genuinely kooky Community. These are matters of taste with which people are allowed to disagree, and clearly do. That it's a smug, G-rated Election on uppers with 2-D characterizations would not, in itself, prompt anything more dramatic than a Tivo thumbs-down.

The Lame Cast Of Glee

Moreover, Glee has managed to produce the lamest characters on TV. This is the problem with a supposedly "feel-good" TV series. I can barely tell each character apart. They all seem to coagulate into a generic ball of musical fluff. They're all lazy characterizations: a jock, some cheerleaders, a swotty girl, someone who keeps cleaning her hands, a guy in a wheelchair who's typically self-effacing, and a gay guy who is camp as Christmas and obsessed with fashion and shopping and y'know gay things like that. I'm genuinely surprised to reach the end of each episode without him yelling "I'm free" as some hunky football player waltzes by. Yes, everyone's a cardboard cliche - it's supposed to be "playing with" stock types - but I think things get nefarious where the dames are concerned. We've got Shrewish, Lying Wife; Sweet Perky Neurotic; Bitchy Cheerleader; Tracy Flick-esque Nerd; Strong Black Woman. Sure, Lynch's over-the-top psycho-coach is watchable, but only because she is, not because there's any more nuance to her. And all of whom orbit around Main Guy, who is apparently perfect, and a saint. Also saintly: football QB. Both are being manipulated by women in their lives while worshipful Perfect Women wait in the wings to ease their burdens.

 

Nearly everyone I know likes it- and I mean nearly everyone. Your sister might like it. Your boss, the bus driver- even your mom. I'm surprised the political parties haven't jumped aboard the already crowded bandwagon. Fans even have a name for themselves- Gleeks (Ugh! How lame can you get???!!!) I mean really? You call yourselves Gleeks? Never has my faith in humanity been so shaken. Seriously- I wouldn't mind it if it were any good but this takes the cake! There's absolutely no buying in to it- unless you count the astronomical sales of the albums that accompanies the series. I mean really, that's all they ever had going. 

The endless marketing. It's almost impossible to spend a day without being subjected to a promotional campaign that's had all the subtlety of a televised hen night.

Glee- Stop Believin'

I actually assumed that given the publicity and the talent (if these cat ever has any talent) the performances they show on the series would be somewhat spectacular- guess again. Majority of the cast were chosen for their musical telents rather than their acting credentials; yet every song is OVERPRODUCED to a level that makes the Vengaboys look like a catchy A Capella group! It's like a rubbish version of High School Musical – which I wouldn't mind were it not for the pretence of drama that precedes every whimsically sung version of an eighties power ballad. At least High School Musical produced and sang their own original songs- I'd give them that. Glee is just remaking every song that was ever sang over the past decades to the present. if they can sing as well as they claim to be, they should at least have a song  or two that were originally written and produced by them. Oh and please, the issues surrounding the lame storylines? Will Mr Schu get with the OCD lady? Will the cool kids accept the glee club nerds? Will we ever care about the type of angst that can be easily communicated through interpretive dance? Sadly, I suspect not.

There, I said it. I hate Glee and some people think I'm a bad person. I think there should be a support group for people who have watched every single episode and still can’t stand the show.  It’s not so much that I hated it from the beginning; I rarely watch twelve or thirteen episodes of a show that I hate.  It’s more of a long-term development over the past few months…something that has come into fruition as the show has declined.  Maybe “declined” is too harsh a word – perhaps failed to live up to its potential?

Glee pretends to be more than just a feel-good TV show, but in it's own way I find lame, boring and humorless- and the more so because it pretends to care.

I'm A Bad Person Because I Hate Glee

Somebody once told me that I'm mean- mainly because I love to dish out dirt and bash people with my opinions. Now that I have publicly and proudly announed that I hate Glee- everybody's been telling me that I'm a bad person. Awwww... shucks! Well, I guess I am bad- and proud of it! Hahahahaha! Come off it people! You guys came unglued again. So what if I hate Glee? I don't mind if you don't like Gossip Girl or if you don't like me at all! If you can prove that Glee deserves high praises from me then prove it. But, as far as I'm concerned and as high were my tastes, Glee is nothing but a embarrassing failure to local TV- like cheap teleseryes and telenovelas your maid, your drivers and all your helpers love to watch!

I know the Gleetards (Glee retards for the uninformed) are chomping at the bit to rip me apart for daring to speak ill of their baby.  Well, come and get me! 

Glee Can't Sing!

If you like Glee then you are probably aware that the characters are ANNOYING and they CAN'T SING! Lea Michele is okay- I'd give her that. But apparently, the same thing can't be said to Cory Monteith, or Charice or whoever else is in the cast. Where did the producers get these people? I know Cory came from Kyle XY but seriously- he has no real talent!

For a show to hinge on two student leads, they have to be pretty dynamic, charismatic characters. Rachel is grating and, at times, insufferable; Finn just seems like he’s constantly stoned.  Schue hands probably 90% of the songs to Finn and/or Rachel to sing, without question, and Finn’s range is questionable, at best.  He can’t really dance that well, and his voice seems thin, flat, and even off pitch at times.  Charice (even though she's a filipina) can't hack it. I find her pieces boring and totally a snooze. Has she ever learned to act by the way? Never saw acting that bad! I googled her name and "bad acting" came out. No surprise there- Glee has no talent!

And let me bring out the two whole episodes they had that focuses entirely on the adult character and ignored the students completely. One train wreck known as “Acafellas.” Answer me this: who really cares about Schue’s crushed dreams?  He should never put his own pathetic childhood fantasies in the way of his students.  When you’re in your thirties and living in small town Ohio, odds are you shouldn’t really be harboring any thoughts of making it big.  Focus on your students and their glee club and not on your pathetic moonlighting existence as a creepy excuse for a lounge singer.  I’m not saying he shouldn’t do what makes him happy, but his hobbies should never come at the expense of the students he promised to lead. As for the other adults, Terri, Emma, and Ken are all just as boring and the writers failed to flesh them out.

I Hate The Glee Club- Don't Yah?

I’m sure most people will counter with me being too sensitive regarding a drama on network TV, but I was appalled at the way the show revealed Terri’s lie to Will.  He had every reason to be upset with her, but this scene bordered on domestic violence, and her eyes seemed to show a significant fear for her own physical safety.  In an earlier episode, the group met their rivals from other schools, including a choir from a school for the deaf.  Near the end, the hearing impaired group tried to sing John Lennon’s “Imagine,” but were quickly outshined and overtaken by their rivals from McKinley.  The show tried to present the scene as a “duet” but it came across more as the New Directions kids (name for a rehab center, much?) pushing the other students out of the spotlight.  Watch that scene and try to listen to the students from the other school: you can barely hear them.  Even worse, when they performed during “Sectionals,” the winter finale of the season, the group was off-screen and mocked by the other characters.  Finally, the writers thought it would be hilarious for the coach of said group to be hearing impaired, as well; the only thing funnier is to have him constantly refer to his hearing deficiency, due to a childhood case of scarlet fever.  Forgive me if I’m not rolling around on the floor.

And if you are wondering why I waste my time blogging about a show that I hate so much- it's because people have judged me prematurely just because I hate Glee. Before you even say Glee is great, and you love Charice- try looking at our side who pukes at this! 22 Nominations for the Grammys eh? Try living the real life people. Glee is nothing than a figment of your uncreative imaginations.

I rest my case.

LavAzza Pure Caffe Italiano

I never thought I'd say this, but I've finally discovered coffee that tastes better than Starbucks- LavAzza; Italy's favorite coffee! 

Cafe Enzo, Salcedo Street, Makati City

I made this wonderful discovery when my mom took us to Cafe Enzo in Salcedo Makati for breakfast this morning. Cafe Enzo is a small but very cozy coffee shop with a very modern interior. It's very relaxing and perfect for those people who wants to go somewhere where they can relax and take a break from their usual everyday routine. A certified coffee lover, I am delighted to discover that they serve the world famous LavAzza coffee. I decided to try out their delightful LavAzza coffee selections in exchange of my usual Cold Coffee Fusion; and I wasn't disappointed.

LavAzza was born in Italy; being one of the coffee capitals of the world. People who have not tasted Lavazza coffee beans yet, do not know where to go for the best taste of coffee. It offers different flavors, from decaffeinated to espresso. Everything looked good from where I can see it, and after making a tough decision, I chose the LavAzza Crema e Aroma. The Creme e Aroma was a strong blended coffee made from the finest Arabica and Robusta beans. The cream and dash of chocolate gave it a sweet flavor with a distinct full bodied taste. Unlike Starbucks, the LavAzza Crema e Aroma doesn't have a "sustagen-like" taste. It's chocolate is well blended with the coffee so you can definitely appreciate both the coffee and chocolate with every sip.

Crema e Gusto

LavAzza offers several different coffees you can choose from. The Gran Filtro is the simplest, most basic coffee they have. It does not have that acidity that comes with the roasted coffee beans and the flavor is very smooth. If you prefer a strong cup, then I highly recommend the LavAzza Caffe Espresso. Made from 100% specially selected Arabica beans, the Caffe Espresso has a dark, intensely aromatic flavor. If you prefer a more metro style of coffee, then nothing beats the Qualita Rossa; UK's biggest Espresso Coffee Brand. It is made from a unique blend of Robusta and Arabica beans to produce an aromatic, smooth, well rounded flavour. Makes superb Cappuccino, and Lattes. Versatile blend, great with or without milk. Other coffee selections include the Qualita Oro, a premium selection of the best smooth and aromatic Arabica beans. blended with a sophisticated taste and a pleasing intense aroma. An ideal coffee for an  Espreso or Flat White. The Tierra is a pecially selected blend of 100% Arabica beans accredited by the Rainforest Alliance. Supporting sustainable development in plantations in Columbia, Honduras and Peru 

Qualita Rossa

We were so delighted with LavAzza that we decided to buy 2 coffee bags to take home. We got the Caffe Espresso and the Crema e Gusto. I'm sure that I will enjoy every cup of LavAzza even while I'm at home.

LavAzza is just as expensive as Starbucks and Coffee Bean; but what sets this brand apart from it's competitors is the rich aroma and flavor it brings to the coffee table. Any coffeeholic would surely agree with me and fall in love with LavAzza when they taste a cup. try one too- and see how quickly this coffee brand becomes your favorite.

Gossip Girl Leads People's Choice Awards And Red Carpet Fashion Runway

Gossip Girl is everywhere!

Gossip Girl Best TV Drama

The People's Choice Award 2011 has nominated Gossip Girl for best TV drama. According to People's Choice Award (which is a very prestigious award giving body I might say), Gossip Girl has not only been among the many most watched TV shows on the tube but exemplifies great values and lessons with each episode aired on TV. The show talks about real people and real life. There's nothing more real than the issues people go through everyday and Gossip Girl was able to bring this issue to light. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Gossip Girl!

Blake Lively & Chace Crawford

And since we are talking about The People's Choice Award, Chace Crawford and Blake Lively were both nominated for Best TV Actor and Best TV Actress respectively. Again, according to People's Choice Award, both their characters Serena van der Woodsen and Nate Archibald were amongst the most influential characters ever seen on primetime TV. Their acting is simply tremendous and captivating that people were able to relate to them easily as compared to other actors and actresses on TV. Wow, it does seem like all praises go to the cast and the crew of Gossip Girl!

I personally didn't see this coming- and I'm sure most of you haven't either. People's Choice Award has spoken. Oh wait, where's Glee? I don't see them getting nominated by any prestigious award giving body. This must definitely mean something- Glee is still a loser while Gossip Girl heads on high to greater grounds! Move over Glee- Gossip Girl has just kicked your sorry ass. 

And while we are talking about success, what could be more successful than being setting a trend on the fashion runway? Gossip Girl's 8th episode entitled "Juliet Doesn't Live Here Anymore" has sparked fashion runways all over the globe! I won't give you all the deets but as it appears, the gowns that Blair, Serena, Juliet & Vanessa used on this episode has made a tremendous impact with global fashion icons everywhere!

Leighton Meester, Blake Lively, Katie Cassidy & Jessica Szohr

We’ve already seen pictures of Leighton Meester in Ralph Lauren with a Judith Leiber clutch and Christian Louboutin heels. Blake Lively in Zuhair Murad with a Halston clutch. The additional pictures are of Katie Cassidy wearing a stunning blue pleated J. Mendel Spring 2010 gown with nude cap sleeves. Her look is paired with a stunning Ranjana Khan necklace and Carlos Falchi clutch.We’ve seen this gown worn by Tatiana Blatnik and Vera Farmiga before. Not to be outnumbered, the equally beautiful Jessica Szohr wore a printed Christian Cota Spring 2010 gown with a ruffled neckline. Her gown was paired with a tan Lauren Merkin clutch. .

Gossip Girl's Gowns Modeled On The Runway

Talk about being fashion icons! These Upper East Side princesses have scorched the runways with their style, beauty and perfection. Move over Disney Princesses- you're nothing but a has-been now!

Cast your votes in Upper East Siders. We'll heat up the awards night into a fashion show!

(You may cast your votes at http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/vote/votenow.jsp?category=&pollId=)

Going Casual

I love it whenever someone appraises me with how I look and what I'm wearing. Having lost a lot of weight over the past few months has helped me improve my style and my new career as a socialite has done wonders for my social life and my social connections. What can I say- my life is almost perfect!

I attended this fashion gala at the Shangri-La hotel a few days ago- and as you can imagine, everyone on the A-List are there. Celebrities, some politicians, fashionistas, and the top socialites of Manila are all present for this December gala. It's like fashion week in New York- only local.

A fashion event as big as this normally requires it's attendees to come in their formal wear. I came in a much different style- and everybody loved it. Fashion is ever changing and even the most staple of all styles can go out of style in a blink of an eye. With fashion statements being ephemeral from time to time, true socialites and fashionistas must be chameleons if they wanted to stay on top of the fashion runway. This season, casual style is in.

Chace Crawford At The NYFW

I got the idea from Chace Crawford himself. His outfit at the New York Fashion week is simple, casual and yet very elegant. No uptight suits that could almost cut off your circulation and with this kind of style, you're free to move any way you want! Not to stuffy and not too shabby.

Gone are the days when suits are in and you're obliged to come in your best Armani attire. Fashion is a little more loose these days. The looser the better. But still, small details are being taken into consideration. You cannot just appear off-dressed and call yourself fashionable. It all goes with style , the body and the clothes you wear. Not everybody can pull off a Serena van der Woodsen look- and not all are Chuck Bass.

Since fashion is not really a common interest for men, let me share some real nice and basic looks to go casual this season. While most men will just wear anything that they can get their hands on to in their closet, some who are fashion conscious and in the same line of work as me would actually care if their shoes match their pants or their shirts clashes with their jeans. Here are some basic casual looks any man can go for:

Tops
Tops are very important. Most of the time people would look at what you're wearing beginning from the shirt you decided to pick out at that moment. Guys, wearing tops are very basic but the style to make them look really nice can be tricky. You don't just wear them and tuck them in your pants like you used to! Wear 3/4 folded up sleeves as your basic top for an everyday smart casual wear. Collect the basic colors first  like black, brown, dark green or blue before buying shirts with prints. If you decided to buy printed tops though- avoid big and wild designs as much as possible. Go for a more subdued but classy casual look.You can wear these tops together with a pair of slacks, jeans or even shorts (yes- you can wear them with shorts!)

  

Where To Buy Tops: Topman, Zara for men, Folded & Hung, Arrow, Hermes, Hugo Boss, Burberry,  Lacoste, Myth by Randy Ortiz, Paul Smith, 

Pants
Wear darker jeans (gray or black) instead of denim because you can use them as an alternative for formal trousers. Skinny jeans are okay if you're slim but if you're a bit heavy on top, go get the straight cut, boot cut or twister style. If you are a slacks person, do not wear the pleated type. These would only make your pants look traditional and out of style.

Where To Buy Jeans: Seven Jeans For All Mankind, Calvin Klein, Marithe & Francois Girbaud, Levis, Diesel, DKNY, People Are People, Gas, Human, Viktor Jeans

Layer
Layering is very important if you're going for the sleek casual look with class. Most men basically forgets this thinking that a simple top and pants would do. But if you're going for style and class like me, layering is always part of the get up. You can wear thin cardigans instead of bulky jackets. Knitted vests are okay as long as its color go with your base clothing. What's important to remember here is that layering must go with your base clothing. Never clash the two. If you're wearing a top with collar, never wear a sports jacket with it! Colors are basic. Black, brown, tan and darker shades are all good choices.

 Where To Buy Layers: G2000, Topman, Zara for men, Myth by Randy Ortiz, Hermes, 158 Designers Boulevard

Accessories
Accessories are a must if you're going for that casual but classic look. Though many actually do not notice it, but contrary to what most people think, accessories are not just for the ladies. Even men are expected to wear accessories that can glam up the look while still keeping that casual style in check. Invest on long lasting accessories like a formal watch and white gold (or silver if you can't afford white gold) bracelet. Remember, though men wear accessories, we keep them to a minimum. Over accessorizing your get up will make you look gay- if not a starchy dresser!

 

Where To Buy Accessories: There's a lot of shops where you can buy really nice accessories and watches. Scout around. I don't normally stick to just one shop for this. But check out Imono at the Mall Of Asia. They have really good stuff there!

Shoes
Shoes are by far the trickiest part of dressing up. Most guys stick to just one basic shoes and wears it all the time no matter what the occasion is. Some only own two pairs- 1 leather and 1 rubber shoes. Stylist would definitely frown at this idea. While women can have a whole closet filled with shoes, so can we men!  Start buying more than just 1 kind of shoes. Stick to basic colors like black, gray, tan and a pair of white sneakers. If you think pointed lace-up shoes are too gay, then try boat shoes or desert design instead. However,  remember that even as you buy shoes, the shoes you buy should match with the clothes you own.

Where To Buy Shoes: Bally, Franco Sarto, Fred Perry, Hideout Shoe Salon, Hush Puppies, Marithe  & Francois Girbaud, Salvatorre Ferragamo, Tony Burch, Trod,

Going casual is all about style at the most relaxed moment. Nothing too stuffy and too uptight. IIf you want to update your wardrobe with this kind of look, I am recommending neutral colors (tan, khaki, taupe, beige), gray shades, black and white. These colors look more professional and smart. It’s better if you always make yourself look presentable especially if you have clients, or you're going to a party or a soiree on the upscale class. This does not only enhance your style but it can also enhance your career. Who you are is what you wear.